A SURPRISE ALONG THE ROAD
‘Were our hearts not burning within us?’ (Lk 24:32)
Two of Jesus' followers were going to the village of Emmaus, which was close to Jerusalem. As they were walking they were talking and thinking about what had happened to Jesus as they had just found out about his empty tomb.
Jesus came near and started walking along beside them. But they did not recognise him. Jesus asked them, ‘What were you talking about as you walked along?’ The two of them stood there looking very sad.
Then the one named Cleopas asked Jesus, ‘Are you the only person from Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has happening there these last few days?’‘What do you mean?’ Jesus asked.
They answered: ‘Those things that happened to Jesus from Nazareth. By what he did and said he showed that he was a great man, who was loved by God and all the people. Then our leaders had him arrested and sentenced to die on a cross. It has been three days since all this happened. Some women in our group surprised us. They had gone to the tomb early in the morning, but did not find the body of Jesus. They came back, saying that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. Some men from our group went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. But they didn't see Jesus either.’
Then Jesus asked the two followers, ‘Why can't you understand?’ Jesus then explained everything that was written about himself in the scriptures.
When they came near the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be going to keep walking.
They begged him, ‘Stay with us! It's already late, and the sun is going down.’ So Jesus went into the house to stay with them.
After Jesus sat down to eat, he took some bread. He blessed it and broke it. Then he gave it to them. At once they knew who he was, but he disappeared. They said to each other, ‘When he talked with us along the road, didn't it warm our hearts?’ So they got right up and returned to Jerusalem.
The two followers found the eleven apostles and some of Jesus’ friends gathered together. They found out from them that the Lord was really alive and had appeared to Peter. Then the followers from Emmaus told what had happened on the road and how they knew he was Jesus when he broke the bread.
For Reflection and Discussion
1
Fill in the blanks for Luke 24:13-35:
13Two of Jesus' disciples were going to the village of _______, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
15_______ came near and started walking along beside them.
18The one named _______ asked Jesus, ‘Are you the only person from Jerusalem who didn't know what was happening there these last few days?’
20Then the chief priests and our leaders had him arrested and sentenced to die on a _______.
22Some women in our group surprised us. They had gone to the _______ early in the morning, 23but did not find the _______ of Jesus. They came back, saying that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is _______.
25Then Jesus asked the two disciples, ‘Why can't you understand? How can you be so slow to believe all that the _______ said? 26Didn't you know that the ________ would have to _______ before he was given his glory?’
30After Jesus sat down to eat, he took some _______. He blessed it and broke it.
2
Form groups of three or more people. Rehearse your own version of the story of the Road to Emmaus, and then act it out for the whole class.